Officials think they know what killed a massive sperm whale that washed ashore about 12 miles north of Seaside on the Oregon coast.
According to a press release from the Seaside Aquarium, the dead whale was first reported 15 miles offshore on Friday, May 23 and then again on Tuesday, May 27. It finally washed ashore between Del Ray and Sunset Beach on Thursday.
Portland State University, Cascadia Research Collective and the Seaside Aquarium were able to perform a necropsy on the almost 53-foot whale on Sunday, the release said.
“During the necropsy, damage to the vertebrate was visible along with signs of hemorrhage,” the aquarium said. “This helped the team determine that this whale was struck by a vessel.”
While this death is a sad end for a whale, it will mean a boon for creatures living near the beach.
“The whale will remain on the beach to naturally decompose,” the aquarium said. “This will provide not only an opportunity to see this large whale but also provide a nutrition boost to the local ecosystem.”
The aquarium expects that scavengers, including turkey vultures, bald eagles and coyotes, will eat parts of the whale as it decomposes.
If you plan to visit the beach with the whale carcass, do not touch it. According to the aquarium, “marine mammals may spread potential diseases to humans and pets.”
©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
